In today’s social media environment, bloggers and social media influencers are trusted sources with built-in audiences. In an advertising sense, they are able to give your product or service a wide reach and give their audience a good, long look at your business. Many influencers have huge followings across multiple popular social media platforms, such as Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, and more. Connecting with these individuals can certainly be beneficial, but you may not know where to start or how to approach an influencer online.
Here are a few different ways in which you can easily reach out to bloggers and social media influencers:
Check Their Website
The most important first step is to take a look at the website of the influencer that you’re considering reaching out to. This will give you the opportunity to see whether or not they’ve posted information regarding their specific collaboration policies. Additionally, this will let you know whether or not your particular brand will be the right fit for you. Collaborating with influencers for advertising can be very beneficial for them too, but some may also have specific collaboration criteria for potential collaborators you should know about and could learn from the website.
Use Business Accounts
When reaching out to a blogger or influencer, always do so from a business account, not a personal account. Whether make initial contact via direct message, email, or through their manager/agent, always do so through a professional-looking personal account (no jakesezhaaaaaaay@email.com). Otherwise, you may be seen as a bot or an individual solicitor instead of a serious business opportunity.
Keep Organized With Who You Contact
Take the time to compose a spreadsheet that contains all of the names and profile links of each influencer and/or blogger that you’re considering reaching out to. After you do this, then reach out by either sending them a direct message on social media, emailing them, or getting in contact with their manager. Additionally, consider making note of both the date and time that you contacted them. Doing so will help you keep track of when you can follow up with them again, typically a few days after initial contact.
Research Influencers and Their Brands
Most likely, as a small business owner, you have put a lot of thought into your brand and how to brand your business. Influencers do the same thing because their persona and image online is their personal brand. You shouldn’t reach out to just any influencer for advertising just because of their audience size. You are looking for a representative of your brand, and should put at least as much thought into it as you would about hiring an employee, though influencers will be much more visible than most employees. Take the time to look over which brands they’ve previously worked with, who’s currently following them, and whether or not their personality and values are in line with your own business brand.
Timing, Timing, Timing!
It can be hard to determine exactly when would be the best time to reach out to an influencer or blogger. Try to avoid reaching out to them during a time of day where it’s likely that they’re receiving such a large amount of messages from people, and make sure you check for a business email or info box on their site.
Thank you for visiting Eye See You Now’s blog, an Austin SEO company. If you need help getting your business viewed online, contact us for a free consultation for your website, social media, and online advertising needs.